Chapter 34: The Dragon and the Elf
Time: Early 89 AC
POV: King Jaehaerys I Targaryen / Princess Viserra Targaryen
King Jaehaerys sat in his study. Reports were piled high on his desk. The room was warm, smelling of old paper and a faint hint of dragons. He was deep in thought about his daughter, Viserra, and her future. For many weeks, he had been thinking about who she should marry.
His best plan so far was to marry Viserra to Lord Manderly of White Harbor. This seemed like a very good idea. Lord Manderly was a powerful ruler in the North, controlling a rich city. Marrying Viserra into his family would make the North even more loyal to the Crown. It would help control important trade routes, bringing more money and stability to the whole kingdom. Jaehaerys valued a steady kingdom above all else. A strong North meant a strong Westeros. Lord Manderly was well-known, respected, and loyal. It was a sensible match, a safe match, one that would bring peace and benefit the realm. Jaehaerys had already started to quietly prepare for this.
A soft knock came at the door, pulling him from his thoughts. "Your Grace, Lord Corlys Velaryon has arrived. He says he carries an urgent message from Ael'tharion for your eyes only."
Jaehaerys frowned slightly. Corlys Velaryon? And a message from the Silvanar Empire? This was very unusual. He knew Corlys was ambitious, always traveling to far-off lands, but to be the messenger for the Silvanar... that was surprising. He waved him in. Corlys Velaryon walked in, looking as confident and bold as always. He bowed deeply, then held out a scroll. It was sealed with the strange, glowing wax that looked alive, unique to the Silvanar. Jaehaerys carefully broke the seal. The paper felt smooth, almost warm, in his hands. He unrolled it slowly, his eyes quickly reading the elegant words written by Emperor Kaelen Silvanor himself.
He read the words, and his breath caught. His eyes went wide. The proposal was clear, direct, and completely unexpected. An engagement between his son, Aerion Silvanor, and his own daughter, Princess Viserra Targaryen.
Jaehaerys leaned back in his chair, the scroll still in his hands. Lord Manderly. He had been planning for a Manderly match for weeks. But this… this was completely different. The Manderlys were powerful, yes, but they were just one strong family in Westeros. The Silvanar Empire was another world entirely. It was a legendary power, a place of ancient magic that seemed to touch the very foundation of life itself. An alliance with them was beyond anything he had ever dared to imagine. It was a dream he didn't even know he had.
He remembered Aerion well. He was surprised to learn Aerion's true age was far greater than he had first thought; Emperor Kaelen had shared some truths about his son's long life. Aerion, though appearing young, carried the wisdom of nearly nine decades. He had spent years in Westeros, studying at the Citadel, and he had even saved Viserra from that terrible storm. He was quiet, thoughtful, and carried himself with a deep grace that spoke of vast experience. Jaehaerys had liked him. He had also noticed the quiet friendship that seemed to grow between Aerion and Viserra. He hadn't thought much of it then – a friendship between a scholar prince and his curious daughter. But Kaelen Silvanor, the Emperor, clearly saw more. And now, entrusting Corlys Velaryon with this message... it showed the depth of Kaelen's trust and his strategic mind.
This was not just a marriage; it was a connection between realms. It was a bridge between the old magic of Valyria, which lived on in his own bloodline and his dragons, and the living magic of Ael'tharion. The benefits were vast: unseen trade routes, ancient knowledge, a powerful ally unlike any other. This could change the very future of Westeros. The Manderly match, which had seemed so important just moments ago, now felt small, almost meaningless, by comparison.
He thought about Viserra, his daughter. He loved her deeply. He wasn't just thinking of a political move; he truly wanted her to be happy and safe. This proposal seemed to balance both. Aerion was a good man, wise and strong. He would treat Viserra well. But living in Ael'tharion would be very different for her. It was a land of magic and long lives, so unlike the often harsh world of Westeros. Would Viserra be happy there? Would she miss her home, her family, her dragons? The thought was a bit unsettling, yet the opportunities this match presented were too great to ignore. Viserra was adventurous, always drawn to the skies and the unknown. Perhaps this was the destiny she was meant for.
He knew he had to talk to Alysanne. His wise Queen would understand the full importance of this letter. She would see both the great promise and the challenges.
Later that day, Queen Alysanne found Viserra in the Dragonpit. Viserra was there, captivated by the sight of Silverwing, her mother's dragon. The air smelled of sulfur and warm stone. Alysanne looked thoughtful. She had just left Jaehaerys, who had shown her the letter from Ael'tharion.
"Viserra, my love," Alysanne said gently, approaching her daughter.
Viserra turned, her purple eyes bright. "Mother! Silverwing seems restless today."
Alysanne smiled faintly. "Perhaps she does. Come, walk with me. I have something important to tell you, something that might explain Silverwing's feelings."
They walked along the winding paths of the Dragonpit, away from the roaring beasts. Alysanne took her daughter's hand. "Your father received a letter today, from Emperor Kaelen Silvanor of Ael'tharion."
Viserra's breath caught, just a little. Her eyes widened. "From Ael'tharion? What did it say?" Her mind raced to Aerion. He had been gone for months, first to Braavos, then home. She had missed his quiet presence, their easy talks about scrolls and dragons.
Alysanne's smile grew, a mix of knowing amusement and deep happiness. "It contained a formal proposal, my dear. A proposal for your engagement to Prince Aerion Silvanor."
Viserra stopped walking. She felt a blush creep up her neck, hot and fast. Her heart started to beat faster, like a drum against her ribs. She looked at her mother, surprise clear on her face. "Engagement? To Aerion?" She felt a sudden rush of warmth, a thrill that went through her veins. But then, a question formed. "Mother, did you... did you know about this? Did Aerion... did he know?"
Alysanne squeezed her hand. "Your father and I had discussed many possible matches for you, my dear, including Lord Manderly, to strengthen our ties in the North. But this… this is different. It's truly grand. As for Aerion, my dear, your father knew there was a connection between you two. He's very perceptive. But no, we did not know a formal proposal would arrive. I sensed something, yes, a quiet affection between you both, but the speed of this... it surprises even me."
Viserra shook her head slowly, still a little stunned. "I... I didn't know it would happen this soon, Mother. I truly didn't. I... I liked him, yes. We talked a lot, we understood each other. But a proposal... I never imagined it would come so directly, so soon after he left." She felt a mix of shock and a soaring joy she couldn't hide. This was a way out of the marriage she feared, and into a future with someone she genuinely liked and respected. It was true, she liked Aerion, more than just a friend. The thought of being bound to him, to Ael'tharion, filled her with a strange, powerful excitement.
Alysanne chuckled softly, drawing her daughter into a comforting hug. "Sometimes, my dearest Viserra, destiny moves faster than our plans. And I believe, in this case, it moves for the very best."